Method for producing a sealed connection between the heating body of a sole plate of iron sole plate

ABSTRACT

The heating element (1) is covered with a plate (2) constituting the ironing surface of the iron and comprising outlets for steam. The heating element (1) surface (6) designed to be covered by the plate (2) comprises a groove (7) extending at least on the whole periphery of the heating element (1). The method is characterised in that it consists in maintaining the heating element (1) flat, the surface (6) comprising the groove (7) facing upwards, pouring a resin (8) in the groove (7), applying the plate on the heating element (1) surface (6), turning the assembly such that the plate (2) faces downwards, to cause the resin (8) to flow in the groove (7) part adjacent to the plate (2).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns a process for producing a sealedconnection between the heating body of a sole plate of a steam iron anda plate often called a cap constituting the pressing surface of theiron.

The invention is equally directed to the sole plate of a pressing ironproduced by the above-cited process.

PRIOR ART

The heating body of the sole plate is generally made of aluminum bymolding, the tubular heating resistance being embedded in the sole platebody.

The plate or cap of the sole plate is generally made of an aluminumsheet whose pressing surface is advantageously coated with a layerfacilitating sliding of the iron, such as a layer of enamel.

This plate or cap has steam passage holes which communicate with thesteam chamber of the iron produced above the heating body.

This cap must be fixed in a sealed manner to the heating body.

This fixation can be achieved by means of a layer of resin resistant tothe heating temperature of the sole plate and applied between the partsin contact of the heating body and of the cap, for example by screenprinting.

This process, which is satisfactory when the area of the contact surfacebetween the heating body and the cap is substantial, and corresponds tothe major part of the surface of the heating body, is insufficient whenthis area is substantially reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to overcome the above drawback,by proposing a process permitting the production of a sealed connectionbetween the heating body and the plate which is simple and economical toimplement and which guarantees a particularly reliable sealedconnection, in particular when the area of the contact surfaces betweenthe heating body and the cap is small.

The invention is thus directed to a process for producing a sealedconnection between the heating body of a sole plate of a steam iron anda plate constituting the pressing surface of said iron, the plate havingsteam outlet holes.

According to the invention, this process is characterized in that theside of the heating body intended to be covered by said plate comprisesa groove extending at least along the entire periphery of said heatingbody, in that said heating body is held flat, the side having the groovebeing directed toward the top, resin is caused to flow into said groove,said plate is applied onto said side of the heating body, the assemblyis turned over in a manner such that the plate is directed toward thebottom, in order to cause the resin to flow into the part of the grooveadjacent to the plate.

The resin utilized can be a silicone resin which is resistant to theheating temperature (around 250° C.) of the iron sole plate.

When one turns over the assembly constituted by the heating body and theplate, the resin which has flowed into the groove comes to be appliedonto the surface of the plate which covers the groove by constituting aribbon having a predetermined thickness.

Advantageously, the turned over assembly is heated in a manner toaccelerate or obtain hardening of the resin.

After hardening of the resin, a sealed and reliable connection isobtained between the heating body and the plate.

The invention is equally directed to the iron sole plate producedaccording to the process according to the invention.

According to the invention, each of the branches of said groove adjacentto respective longitudinal edges of the heating body are traversed by aseries of conduits whose extremity adjacent to the bottom of said branchcommunicates by a channel with a steam chamber and of which the otherextremity opens into a hole arranged in the plate applied onto theheating body.

By this fact, the resin which has flowed into said groove surrounds theextremity adjacent to the plate of each conduit and is in contact withthe surface of the plate which covers the groove.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the vapor passageholes arranged in the plate are prolonged toward the heating body bytubular parts formed in said plate, these latters being engaged and setinto the conduits situated in the groove of the heating body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other particularities and advantages will also appear in the descriptionhere below:

Of the attached figures, given by way of non-limiting example:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view in transverse cross-section of a heating bodyof a steam iron sole plate, after flow of a resin into the groove of theheating body;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, after application of theplate and turning of the assembly;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line III--III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view according to line IV--IV ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view according to line V--V of FIG.3;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an embodiment of the ironing side of the plateintended to cover the heating body of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 6 of another embodiment of theinvention.

BEST MANNER OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

There will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 the process forproducing a sealed connection between heating body 1 of a steam ironsoleplate and a plate or cap 2 constituting the ironing surface of theiron. Heating body 1 comprises a tubular heating resistance 5 whichsurrounds one (or several) steam chamber(s) 26 situated at the side ofheating body 1 opposite to cap 2.

This plate 2 comprises (see FIGS. 3 to 7) steam outlet holes 4 formed insteam chamber 26.

According to the invention, the side 6 of heating body 1 intended to becovered by plate 2 comprises a groove 7 extending at least along all ofthe periphery of heating body 1.

According to the process of the invention, heating body 1 is maintainedflat, the side 6 comprising groove 7 being directed toward the top, asindicated in FIG. 1.

Then a resin 8 is poured into the groove 7, then plate 2 is applied ontoside 6 of heating body 1 (see FIG. 1).

In the following step, illustrated in FIG. 2, the assembly is turnedover in a manner such that plate 2 is directed toward the bottom inorder to cause the resin 8 to flow into the part of groove 7 adjacent toplate or cap 2.

In an advantageous manner in a third step the assembly is then heated,for example in an oven, to harden the resin when the selected resin doesnot polymerize at ambient temperature, or polymerizes too slowly.

After hardening of resin 8, one obtains a sealed and reliable connectionbetween body 1 and plate 2.

Preferably, the resin 8 utilized is a silicone resin. Such a resin isresistant to the maximum service temperature of a pressing iron.

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, each of the branches 15a,15b of groove 7 adjacent to respective longitudinal edges 25a, 25b ofheating body 1 is traversed by a series of conduits 10 whose extremityadjacent to the bottom 9 of said branch 15a, 15b communicates by achannel 11 with steam chamber 26 and the other extremity of which opensinto a hole 4 formed in plate 2 applied onto heating body 1, as shown inFIG. 5.

FIG. 5 shows on the other hand that resin 8 poured into groove 7surrounds the extremity 10a adjacent plate 2 of each conduit 10 and isin contact with surface 2a of plate 2 which covers groove 7.

One sees on the other hand on FIG. 5 that steam passage holes 4 formedin plate 2 are extended toward heating body 1 by tubular parts 12 formedin plate 2.

In the position shown in FIG. 5, tubular parts 12 are engaged and setinto extremities 10a of conduits 10 situated in groove 7 of heating body1.

In the exemplary embodiment of heating body 1 according to FIG. 3,groove 7 has substantially the form of an inverted V whose tip 13 isadjacent the tip 14 of the sole plate and of which the extremity 16a,16b of the two branches 15a, 15b opposite to tip 13 communicates with agroove 17 which connects these two branches 15a, 15b.

It is seen in FIG. 3 that a groove 22 connects the two branches 15a, 15bof groove 7 between tip 13 and groove 17.

The heating body 1 presents, between grooves 15a, 15b and groove 22, achamber 3 constituting a first steam distribution chamber 3 which isclosed by plate 2 and which communicates with the outside via holes 27arranged in the thickness of plate 2.

The first steam distribution chamber 3 communicates with steam chamber26 via channels 28 each arranged between two adjacent channels 11 andeach ending in the first distribution chamber 3 by a recess 29 formed bya portion 30 in the form of a U opened toward chamber 3 of interior wall31 of the corresponding branch 15a, 15b of groove 7.

In the example of FIG. 3, the extremities 16a, 16b of the two branches15a, 15b of groove 7 in the form of an inverted V are connected togetherby a second groove 18 which extends close to the rear edge 19 of heatingbody 1.

The two grooves 17, 18 connecting together the extremities 16a, 16b ofthe two branches of groove 7 in the form of an inverted V, surround asecond steam distribution chamber 20 which opens to the outside viaholes 21 formed in the rear part of plate 2 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). Thesecond steam distribution chamber 20 communicates with steam chamber 26by channels 38 each ending in said second chamber by a recess 39 formedin a portion of a wall 37 delimiting grooves 17, 18 and the seconddistribution chamber 20.

During pouring of resin 8, heating body 1 is disposed flat as indicatedin FIG. 3.

This resin 8 partially fills groove 7 in the form of an inverted V,grooves 17 and 18, as well as the groove 22 which connects the twobranches 15a, 15b of groove 7.

After application of plate 2 on heating body 1, and turning over of theassembly, the resin 8 flows onto the surface of plate 2 which covers thegrooves 7, 17, 18 and 22.

After heating and hardening of resin 8, this latter forms a continuoussealed joint, which extends over all of the periphery of plate 2 and ofheating body 1, around distribution chambers 3 and 20 and aroundconduits 10 and steam passage holes 4.

A spout 32 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) places the interior of groove 7 incommunication with the outside in order to facilitate this operation.

The resin joint thus obtained, while guaranteeing an excellent andreliable seal, also assures an excellent mechanical connection betweenheating body 1 and plate 2.

The resin joint thus produced along grooves 7, 15a, 15b, 17, 18 and 22thus frees the entire central part of the interior side of heating body1 and the central part of cap 2, and thus permits the creation of steamdistribution chambers such as chambers 3 and 20 described.

Distribution chambers 3 and 20 can be connected to one or more steamchambers different from that supplying channels 10 and holes 4, whichpermits precise control of the passage of steam through cap 2 toward thefabric to be ironed, by arranging on cap 2 several zones for the arrivalof steam constituted respectively by holes 4, 21 and 27. The flow ofsteam is shown schematically by arrows 33 in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The central zone of cap 2 arranged between these three zones thusconstitutes a dry fabric heating zone.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have beendescribed and one can make numerous modifications thereto withoutdeparting from the framework of the invention.

POSSIBILITY OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

The invention finds its application in the field of pressing irons.

What is claimed is:
 1. Process for producing a sealed connection betweenthe heating body (1) of a sole plate of a steam iron and a plate (2)constituting the ironing surface of said iron, said plate (2) comprisingsteam outlet holes (4), characterized in that the side (6) of theheating body (1) intended to be covered by said plate (2) comprises afirst groove (7) extending at least along all of the periphery of saidheating body, in that said heating body (1) is maintained flat, the side(6) comprising the first groove (7) being directed toward the top, resin(8) is poured into said first groove (7), said plate (2) is applied ontosaid side (6) of the heating body (1), the assembly is turned over in amanner that the plate (2) is directed toward the bottom, in order tocause the resin (8) to flow into the part of the first groove (7)adjacent to the plate (2).
 2. Process according to claim 1,characterized in that the assembly is then heated, in order to hardenthe resin (8).
 3. Process according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe resin utilized is a silicone resin.
 4. A sole plate of a steam ironcomprising a heating body (1) and a plate (2) constituting the ironingsurface of said iron, a sealed connection being produced between theheating body (1) and the plate (2) characterized in that said sealedconnection is produced according to the process in accordance withclaim
 1. 5. Sole plate according to claim 4, characterized in that: theheating body has a plurality of longitudinal edges (25a, 25b); saidfirst groove (7) has a plurality of branches (15a, 15b) each adjacent toa respective one of said longitudinal edges (25a, 25b) of the heatingbody (1); each of said branches (15a, 15b) has a bottom (9); and saidsole plate further comprises a series of conduits (10) traversing eachof said branches (15a, 15b), each of said conduits having one extremityadjacent to the bottom (9) of one of said branches (15a, 15b) andcommunicating by a channel (11) with a steam chamber (26) and anotherextremity (10a) which opens into a hole (4) formed in the plate (2)applied onto the heating body (1).
 6. Sole plate according to claim 5,characterized in that the resin (8) poured into said first groove (7)surrounds the after extremity (10a) of each conduit (10) adjacent to theplate (2) and is in contact with the surface (2a) of the plate (2) whichcovers the first groove (7).
 7. Sole plate according to claim 5,characterized in that the steam passage holes (4) formed in the plate(2) are extended toward the heating body (1) by tubular parts (12)formed in said plate (2), these latters being engaged and set into theconduits (10) situated in the first groove (7) of the heating body (1).8. Sole plate according to claim 5, characterized in that: saidplurality of branches (15a, 15b) are composed of two branches; saidfirst groove (7) has substantially the form of an inverted V of whichthe tip (13) is adjacent to the tip of the sole plate; said two branchesextend from the tip of the inverted V and have extremities (16a, 16b)which are opposite to the tip (13) of the inverted V; and the side (6)of the heating body (1) intended to be covered by said plate (2)comprises a second groove (17) which connects the two branches (15a,15b).
 9. Sole plate according to claim 8, characterized in that a thirdgroove (22) connects the two branches (15a, 15b) of the first groove (7)between the tip (13) of the of the inverted V and the second groove(17).
 10. Sole plate according to claim 9, characterized in that theheating body (1) presents, between the two branches (15a, 15b) and thethird groove (22), a chamber (3) constituting a first steam distributionchamber (3) which is closed by the plate (2) and which communicates withthe exterior by holes (27) formed in the thickness of the plate (2). 11.Sole plate according to claim 10, characterized in that the first steamdistribution chamber (3) communicates with the steam chamber (26) bychannels (28) each arranged between two adjacent channels (11) and eachending in the first distribution chamber (3) by a recess (29) formed bya portion (30), in the form of a U opened toward the chamber (3), of theinterior wall of the corresponding branch (15a, 15b) of the first groove(7).
 12. Sole plate according to claim 8, characterized in that theextremities (16a, 16b) of the two branches (15a, 15b) of the firstgroove (7) are connected together by a fourth groove (18) which extendsclose to the rear edge (19) of the heating body (1).
 13. Sole plateaccording to claim 12, characterized in that the second and fourthgrooves (17, 18) connecting together the extremities (16a, 16b) of thetwo branches (15a, 15b) of the first groove (7) surround a second steamdistribution chamber (20) which opens to the exterior through holes (21)formed in the rear part of the plate (2).